Matt Murphy, seen on Friday, April 22, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif., is in this week's Stylemaker Spotlight.

Matt Murphy, seen on Friday, April 22, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif., is in this week's Stylemaker Spotlight.

Photo: Russell Yip, The Chronicle

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"I sell vintage items on 1stdibs, but I buy on the site as well. You essentially have hundreds of the best antique and vintage shops around the world at your fingertips. I can also spend hours on 1stdibs just exploring and learning; it’s like an encyclopedia for decorative arts.” (www.1stdibs.com) less

"I sell vintage items on 1stdibs, but I buy on the site as well. You essentially have hundreds of the best antique and vintage shops around the world at your fingertips. I can also spend hours on 1stdibs just ... more

Photo: John Bedell

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Cocktail shaker: “One of my favorite possessions is a 1930s one-of-a-kind cocktail shaker that was owned (and well-used) by Tommi Parzinger. Of course, he designed it, too. He would design everything for his own use — from glassware and china to furniture and lighting — and took elegance and refinement to the extreme. The shaker is special not only for its rarity and provenance, but also because it was a gift from Donald Cameron, who inherited it after Parzinger’s death.” less

Cocktail shaker: “One of my favorite possessions is a 1930s one-of-a-kind cocktail shaker that was owned (and well-used) by Tommi Parzinger. Of course, he designed it, too. He would design everything for his ... more

Photo: Matt Murphy

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When I moved to San Francisco seven years ago, I quickly started discovering the work of Bay Area abstract painters from the late 1940s to the 1960s. One of my first art purchases here was a 1955 abstract by Walter Kuhlman, who studied under Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still. The painting was the jumping-off point for the redesign of my entire apartment — even down to the color palette.” less

When I moved to San Francisco seven years ago, I quickly started discovering the work of Bay Area abstract painters from the late 1940s to the 1960s. One of my first art purchases here was a 1955 abstract by ... more

Photo: Walter Kuhlman

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S.F. designer Matt Murphy comes into his own

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By the time Matt Murphy hung the shingle on his eponymous firm last July ( www.mattmurphystudio.com), he had two decades of design experience under his belt - including opening a home furnishings boutique in Minneapolis, and heading up product development for home goods for Target for five years before moving to San Francisco to work for Pottery Barn.

"This is something I've been thinking about for so long," he said of his Jackson Square studio, "a space where I can explore and do everything I love - interior design, selling 20th century design and art, and launching my own products."

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He credits "discovering the work of (midcentury designer) Tommi Parzinger as the single biggest influence in my self-education and development as a designer." Murphy is close friends with Donald Cameron, Parzinger's partner and associate of more than 40 years. At this month's San Francisco Decorator Showcase ( www.decoratorshowcase.org), where Murphy is making his debut with the master bedroom (pictured on Page N5), he is featuring Parzinger and Cameron's work, in addition to pieces of his own design that are inspired by Parzinger.

After 20 years in the industry, Murphy maintains that "doing what you love and creating something beautiful doesn't feel like work. It's very rewarding and fulfilling."

On design: "When it comes to design, the best work is done with feeling - with soul. One of my favorite fortune cookie messages read, "Buy on emotion and justify with fact." It resonated with me. When you consider a purchase for your home, first of all, you have to love it; it should move you. Then you have to ask yourself: Can I afford it? Do I need it? Do have a room for it? But if it doesn't make your knees knock, why bother?"

Buy up: "A friend was house shopping a few years ago, and her mother told her: 'Honey, it always pays to buy up.' She was right. Buy the best you can afford, especially when it comes to art and furnishings. I'm a big proponent of buying vintage and antiques whenever possible. If you buy wisely and with passion, you're making a good investment. If you're not confident in what you're purchasing, consult a dealer or designer with a solid reputation."

From hotels to the home: "What is it about your favorite hotel that makes it so comfortable? Next time you stay, take note and apply some of these amenities when you return home. For me, the best hotel rooms are simple yet elegant, and not over-decorated. They're usually stripped down to the essentials, but the essentials are luxurious and beautifully detailed."

Black is back: "I'm not one to hop on a trend, but I have been known to get hot on a color. Right now, I'm feeling black again for the home, but not in a severe, '80s way. Black can be classic, traditional and decidedly dramatic. In the master bedroom of the Showcase, I designed a dominantly black rug, and I'm using one of my own fabrics (a black screen print on raw silk) as drapery - contrasted with warm wood furniture, neutral fabrics and pops of color."

A good look: "Several years ago, an older and wiser friend and I were walking down a street in New York. As people passed by, he noted that most people walk around with their eyes open but they don't see anything. It made me think, and also made me want to be more observant. I realized one has to make a conscious effort to stay present, to notice the details. It's made me a better designer."